Jane, if you want to do 5:2, then you need to do some research and some planning.
1. Read the Fast Diet book and/or watch the TV show “Eat, Fast, Live” — these will give you the basics of the Lifestyle and should inspire you to get with the program
2. Plan out some menus for Fast Days and write them on the calendar. I have a blog where I share meal menus and recipes to help Fasters have options of what to eat. You will find the address if you click my ‘handle’ and read my profile.
3. Shop and pre-prep ingredients so that when it comes time to prepare them, it will be easier.
4. Prepare some healthy soups and freeze them in 1-cup servings. These work well for lunches at work or a quick dinner when rushed. Here’s one we like:

Minestrone Soup: PB GF [if you use GF pasta] 1 cup =145.5 calories 3 g fat 5.3 g fiber 8 g protein 27 g carbs 86.4 mg Calcium 1/2 cup = 73 calories 1.5 g fat 2.6 g fiber 4 g protein 14 g carbs 43.2 mg Calcium 1 tsp olive oil 1 cup onion, chopped 2/3 cup carrot, chopped ½ cup celery, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 3 slices pepperoni, chopped ½ cup sweet potato, cubed ½ cup zucchini, diced ½ cup mushrooms, chopped 2 cups crushed tomatoes ¾ cup small white beans, drained and rinsed if canned lots of sage and rosemary, chopped 1 cups water + 2 cups chicken broth/stock, low sodium 1 oz pasta, all or some of it could be whole wheat if you are boosting fiber [orzo, dinetelli, broken spaghetti] 2 tsp Parmasan cheese, grated salt and pepper to taste
Put the olive oil, onion, carrot, celery, garlic and pepperoni into a sauce pan together and cook over medium heat until onions begin to wilt. Add the sweet potato, zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes, white beans, herbs, and water. Cook at a simmer for about 20 minutes. Add the pasta and cook until it is soft. Add remaining seasonings. HINT: One serving is one cup, but you could go to 1 and ¼ cups each. This recipe made 4 cups for me – several future meals from one prep!

5.When I go out to dine, I have one appetizer as a first course, and a second appetizer as a main course. Then I might share a dessert with my husband. All that will a glass of sparkling wine makes a special night out.

Good luck, Jane.

Well said, Lizzybits!